Variable deflector apparatus for side step of vehicle

Abstract

A variable deflector apparatus for a side step of a vehicle may include a slide plate receiving power from a drive device to be received in and drawn out from the side step, and a side-step deflector comprising a plurality of joints connected to each other in a row to be coupled with the slide plate and folded or unfolded with respect to a junction of each of the joints, in which the side-step deflector is configured to be received together with the slide plate when it is received in the side step and to be drawn out together with the slide plate and simultaneously separated therefrom when the slide plate is drawn out from the side step, and a drawn-out portion of the side-step deflector separated from the slide plate is configured to be perpendicularly deployed downwards from the side step, thus improving aerodynamic performance of the vehicle.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A variable deflector apparatus for a side step of a vehicle, comprising:
 a slide plate receiving power from a drive device to be received in and drawn out from the side step; and 
 a side-step deflector comprising a plurality of joints connected to each other in a row to be coupled with the slide plate and to be folded or unfolded with respect to a junction of each of the joints, 
 wherein the side-step deflector is configured to be received together with the slide plate when it is received in the side step and to be drawn out together with the slide plate and simultaneously separated therefrom when the slide plate is drawn out from the side step, and a drawn-out portion of the side-step deflector separated from the slide plate is configured to be perpendicularly deployed downwards from the side step, thus improving aerodynamic performance of the vehicle. 
 
     
     
       2. The variable deflector apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a vehicle-speed sensor; and 
 a controller configured to receive a signal from the vehicle-speed sensor to control an operation of the drive device. 
 
     
     
       3. The variable deflector apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the drive device comprises:
 a motor fixedly mounted to a vehicle body in an indoor direction of the vehicle; and 
 a pinion gear coupled to a shaft of the motor, and 
 the slide plate comprises a rack gear integrally formed on an underside thereof to engage with the pinion gear. 
 
     
     
       4. The variable deflector apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein, when the side-step deflector is received in the side step, a last joint in an outdoor direction of the vehicle is coupled to the slide plate and the remaining joints maintain a close contact state with the slide plate to be separable therefrom. 
     
     
       5. The variable deflector apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein the side step defines a receiving space therein and has, at an end in the indoor direction facing the pinion gear, an opening that is connected to the receiving space, and the slide plate and the side-step deflector are configured to be received in or drawn out through the opening. 
     
     
       6. The variable deflector apparatus of  claim 5 , wherein a guide groove is formed on a side of each of front and rear ends in the receiving space of the side step, in a direction where the side step protrudes laterally, and the side-step deflector is fitted at a side of each of front and rear ends thereof into the guide groove when the side-step deflector is received in or drawn out, and a portion of the side-step deflector fitted into the guide groove is in close contact with the slide plate to prevent the side-step deflector from sagging. 
     
     
       7. The variable deflector apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein a number of joints of the side-step deflector that are configured to be perpendicularly deployed downwards from the side step is increased, as a vehicle speed increases.